Mission Eastis a Danish international relief and development organisation, working in Eastern Europe and Asia. Our aim is to deliver relief aid, to create and support long-term development projects and to empower local aid organisations to carry on the work independently. Making no racial, religious or political distinction between those in need, we aim to assist the most vulnerable.

Bringing aid to victims of the typhoon

Bangkok, December 21st, 2013, en route back from the Philippines.

I have just come back from a visit to the island of Leyte in the Philippines. I went there to see for myself that the relief work supported by Mission East through our alliance partner Medair reaches the victims of the devastating typhoon Hayian that we are aiming to assist.
Among many beneficiaries I met the brothers Roy and Rolly. On November 8th, they spent six hours hiding in a culvert under a nearby road, standing in water up to their necks as they watched the typhoon smashing their homes and most of their belongings. All that survived was the two pigs they had attached to the stem of a coconut tree, as well as 8 of their 40 coconut trees.
Like thousands of others they have now lost the basis for their livelihoods, and their children are traumatized by what they have experienced. Now, more than a month after Hayian hit the shores of their island, dead bodies are still being found in the devastated towns and villages.
But the work supported by Mission East continues even after all the TV crews have gone home.
We are there to support the families of Roy and Rolly and the 6,500 other victims assisted by our partner Medair, who has chosen to focus their assistance on the town of Dulag where only few other agencies were present in the aftermath of the disaster.
Personally, I have witnessed the distribution of hygiene kits, tarpaulins and equipment for drinking water being distributed to the beneficiaries, but the needs are still enormous.
Together we can assist the many beneficiaries in recreating their lives.
With my best wishes for the upcoming Christmas and New Year.
Kim Hartzner, MD, Managing Director